NFL Week 18 review - who’s sitting at the top and who squeaked into the postseason

The GIST: The first NFL weekend since Hamlin’s injury (and last of the regular season) was filled with emotional scenes, heartfelt tributes and stunning plays en route to deciding the 14-team playoff field.

• Here’s who’s sitting at the top and who squeaked into the postseason after a thrilling 48 hours of football.

AFC: The Kansas City Chiefs (literally) ran circles around the Las Vegas Raiders, posting a 31–13 Saturday rout to lock in the No. 1 seed and a crucial first-round bye. Then the Jacksonville Jaguars went from worst team in the NFL last year to AFC South champs (and the No. 4 seed) with a 20–16 win vs. the Tennessee Titans. Talk about a glow up.

• Elsewhere, the Miami Dolphins are the last team in, thanks to their 11–6 snoozefest win over the NY Jets and the New England Patriots throwing away their shot with a 35–23 loss to the now No. 2 seed Bills.

NFC: The Philadelphia Eagles did their job against the NY Giants, hanging on for a 22–16 win to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC. And in true dramatic fashion, the final playoff berth came down to the final regular-season game.

• The Seattle Seahawks miraculously nabbed the No. 7 seed after their 19–16 overtime win vs. the LA Rams and the Green Bay Packers’ 20–16 Sunday Night Football loss to the Detroit Lions. New life in Seattle, and maybe the end of an era in Green Bay?

Looking ahead: There will be plenty more postseason deets in our full preview later this week, but the next few days will likely be about the teams who didn’t make it. Today is known as “Black Monday,” when eliminated squads often cut ties with their lackluster head coaches (HC).

• The Houston Texans wasted no time, firing HC Lovie Smith yesterday after he went a dismal 3-13-1 (wins, losses, ties).

• Other names on the hot seat? Arizona Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury, who posted a 4-13 record and Indianapolis Colts interim HC Jeff Saturday, who went 1-7 after controversially taking over the team in Week 10. As if Mondays weren’t tough enough…